The Lions of Zone 2B, from the Clubs of Battle, Bexhill, Eastbourne, Hailsham, Hastings, Rye and Uckfield joined together to host their twelfth “It’s A Special Knockout” day for handicapped people at St Bede’s School, Upper Dicker.
After a rousing opening by Hailsham’s Town Crier, Geoff Rowe, accompanied by Leo, a large costumed Lion, a total of 130 competitors took part in the games. Supported by some 75 carers, supporters and families and, of course, many Lions, the competitors came from nine groups across East Sussex and formed a total of 17 different teams.
The contestants competed more than enthusiastically in a varied range of games including a “Postman Pat” posting race, dressing in reverse and fishing for ducks. It was a nail-biting finish with 4 of the 17 teams having an equal score before the final race. However, one team had wisely withheld their Joker, which would double their score, for the last race. This meant that the overall winners were the Yellow Perils from Special Olympics, Eastbourne and they will hold the trophy for a year.
In addition to the races, there were two other competitions, a prize for the best design of a Joker card and the best designed poster. These were judged by the mayors of Hailsham, Bexhill, and Eastbourne. Other VIPs attending were the Lions Region Chairman, Terry Mason, the Zone Chairman, Simon Hurrel, the Hailsham Community Support Officer and two rather large costumed Lions, Leo and Rory.
All competitors were presented with a commemorative medal and certificate. In addition, to throwing all their efforts into the games, the competitors also enjoyed dancing to a disco together with the Lions, both human and in Lion costume.
The Lions would like to express their thanks to St Bede’s School for providing such excellent facilities, Tesco’s for the provision of much needed bottled water and the prizes for the Joker and poster competitions. The reward for the Lions was the enthusiasm of the contestants and the expressions of pure delight and pleasure on the faces of the competitors.
Many of the, by then exhausted, Lions together with family and friends, went for a well-deserved drink and meal at the nearby Plough Inn. The Lions hope next year to hold their thirteenth Special Knockout.
From the April 2012 issue of “Rye’s Own”.
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